Official Synopsis:
Academy Award winners Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman star in this compelling and witty film from Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols and Primetime Emmy-winning writer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing). Based on the outrageous true story, Charlie Wilson's War shows how one congressman who loved a good time, one Houston socialite who loved a good cause and one renegade CIA agent who loved a good fight conspired to bring about the largest covert operation in history.
  
Our Take:
“Hmmmm…” seems like a good place to start with Charlie Wilson’s War. This is probably the most ho-hum I’ve felt about a film in quite some time. I really don’t have anything negative to say about it, but at the same time, there wasn’t a single moment when I found myself swept up into the narrative.

Really, this feeling shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me as Charlie Wilson’s War had one of the absolute worst trailers I’ve ever seen for a major motion picture. (Seriously, was it edited by a high school student?). Still I put trust into director Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Closer), writer Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing) and of course, the fantastic cast of Tom Hanks, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julia Roberts. Despite that talent, I was never gripped by the movie, although I would like to say that it’s an understatement to say that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the greatest part of this film.

Charlie Wilson’s War came out at a perfect time with the state of our current affairs. And the subject matter is interesting and, sure, I learned a few things along the way, but what fun is learning if your not being thoroughly entertained the whole way through?

Special features include:

* The Making Of Charlie Wilson’s War (17 minutes) – From real life, to book, to screen.

* Who Is Charlie Wilson? (12 minutes) – Meet the real Charlie.

I can certainly see why so many people enjoyed Charlie Wilson’s War and I’d have no problem recommending it to friends but I’d also like to give a little warning to the viewers of just how cut and dry this war is. Don’t go into this film expecting a lot of laughs nor a gripping drama because you really won’t find either of those films here.

Overall Picture:
Movie: B
DVD: C+

- Landen Chase Pelish
Staff Writer